Yes, you have read it correctly; over 20 Million men are missing from the working population of India based on the data tabulated for the past 15 years. The results are shocking, the death rates of Indian men increase once they are born. The number of deaths of Indian men over a 5 year time period from 1995 – 2000 in 5 year age groups are given below [i]–
| (in ‘000) | |||
|
Age Group |
2000 |
2005 |
2010 |
|
15-19 |
364.3 |
327.2 |
295.0 |
|
20-24 |
477.8 |
438.4 |
399.5 |
|
25-29 |
575.3 |
549.1 |
501.4 |
|
30-34 |
608.9 |
632.9 |
579.6 |
|
35-39 |
670.3 |
706.2 |
680.3 |
|
40-44 |
719.1 |
766.3 |
762.9 |
|
45-49 |
828.5 |
863.7 |
876.8 |
|
50-54 |
1,048.0 |
1,080.9 |
1,116.0 |
|
55-59 |
1,333.0 |
1,386.0 |
1,447.2 |
|
Total |
6,625.1 |
6,750.8 |
6,658.7 |
The data above is further substantiated by the Census 2011 data. It is the reduction of the male population which is increasing the Female to Male Sex Ratio[ii]. The census data below shows[iii]–
|
Year |
Sex Ratio in Age 0-6 |
Overall Sex Ratio |
|
1991 |
1058 |
1079 |
|
2001 |
1079 |
1072 |
|
2011 |
1094 |
1064 |
Can you spot the dichotomy above; the birth rates of males is increasing (ie. in age group 0-6) whereas the overall sex ratio of males is falling. The birth rates of males have increased from 1058 per thousand females in 1991 to 1094 in 2011. The overall sex ratio is fallen from 1079 to 1064 during the same time period.
If more males are being born as compared to females, then how come the overall sex ratio of males is decreasing? The answer lies in the first table, ie. the death rates of men in India for the age group of 15-59 is high as compared to women.
This is a point of concern and calls for immediate action. The reasons of the high death rates could be –
- Inadequate Health Care facilities for Men
- Inadequate Personal Safety
- Higher Suicide Rates
- Gender Biased Laws (Link1 and Link2)
- Mindset of Male disposability in the society
What are “YOU” planning to do about it?
[i] US Census Bureau – International Programs – http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/region.php?N=%20Results%20&T=10&A=separate&RT=0&Y=1990,1995,2000,2005,2010&R=-1&C=IN Calculation Methodology: The 5 year age groups are tracked over the years. For example, deaths in age group 20-25 in year 2000 is calculated as a difference in population in age group 20-25 for year 2000 and population in age group 15-20 in year 1995.
[ii] Number of Males per 1000 Females
[iii] Chapter 5, Statement 16 of the 2011 Census of India
